1949 Crosley Hotshot Roadster

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Description

(SOLD) Offered here is an excellent example of the charming, cheerful, and competition-proven Hotshot Roadster. These fun little runabouts were built to true roadster specifications: no doors, no roof. Finished in a suitable maroon color accented by cream-colored wheels and a tan interior, this Hotshot had benefitted from a thorough restoration in recent times. Fitted with a Crosley radio, chrome bumpers and a rear mounted spare wheel, this Crosley looks like as much fun as it is to drive, and will undoubtedly be the center of attention at any car-guy gathering, even in the midst of much more expensive and exotic models. With a competition provenance allowing for eligibility to some of the most prestigious motoring events, it would be difficult to imagine a more crowd-pleasing car at any price point – just as in its heyday, the Crosley offers great value and economy in a smile-inducing package.

History

Successful entrepreneur Powel Crosley, Jr., of Cincinnati, Ohio, owner of a broadcasting corporation bearing his name and the Cincinnati Reds baseball team, set out to build a sub-compact car with the assistance of his younger brother, engineer Lewis Crosley. Their first car - a two-door convertible that weighed under 1,000-pounds (454 kg) and sold for just $250 – debuted at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1939. 1941 saw the range expand to include two- and four-passenger convertibles, a convertible sedan, a station wagon, a panel truck, and a pickup, among other variations. World War II brought Crosley buyers thanks to gasoline rationing and the nearly 50 miles per gallon the Crosley could achieve, helping to keep the company afloat. Many innovations characterized Crosley's post-war years, including the first use of the term Sport Utility, the first mass-market single overhead camshaft engine and first American car to be fitted with four-wheel disc brakes. The Hotshot sports model was introduced in 1949 and became the basis for countless Crosley-powered road racing specials. Such was the competition potential of the model that a Hotshot won outright in the 1950 Sebring Six Hours – an event that continues to this day as the Sebring 12 Hours.